Filling machine



Nov. l, 1949.

J.BOUSQUET FILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. l2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY,

Nov. 1, 1949.

Filed Jan. l2, 1946 J. BOUSQUET 2,486,461

FILLING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2?.A

Patented Nov. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT4 OFFICE y FILLING MACHINE John Bousquet, Copiague, N. Y., assignor to Beech-Nut Packing Company, Canajoharie, N. Y., a corporation of New York Appncation Januaryia, 1946, serial 10,640,849

2 claims. (o1. 226-2) The present invention relates to machines for filling lcartons or boxes, and particularly boxes for packaging candy-coated gum such as five cent boxes of Beechiesj and has for its object to provide a novel and improved machine of this character.

The several features of the invention, whereby this and other objects may be attained, will be readily understood from'the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a section-al plan view of a portion Iof .a box-lling machine embodying the features of the invention in their preferred form, the section being taken substantially on line I--I of Fig. `3;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 3--3 and 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is particularly adapted -for use in packaging pieces of candy-coated g-um 2, the pieces being in the form of rectangular tablets as customary.

'Ihe machine as shown comprises a plurality of open-ended trays 4 that are fed side by side on an endless conveyor (not shown), the trays during a portionof their travel sliding on horizontal rails 6. Each tray is adapted to receive twelve pieces or tablets 2 which are arranged in two rows extending transversely -of the direction of travel of the trays. When the tablets are thus positioned in the trays, suitable mechanism (not shown) pushes the tablets out of one of the ends of each tray and into the box.

The trays are ied intermittently so as to posi- :tion each tray successively at six stations. When each tray is at each station two tablets 2, positioned end to end, are fed sidewise into one of the ends of the tray, so that when the tray has passed the last of the six stations the tray is lled with the twelve tablets as described.

The means illustrated for thus feeding the tablets into the trays at each of s-aid stations comprises two slotted wheels 8 which are intermittently rotated in opposite directions. Each wheel 8, is provided with four radial slots I0, and the .l

wheels are thus rotated ninety degrees so as to position each slot in a vertical position and then in a horizontal position. When each slot I0 is in vertical position and its upper end is directed upwardly, it receives a tablet from a chute I2. The I wheel then rotates ninety degrees to position the slot and the tablet horizontally, the wheels for each pair positioning the two tablets carried thereby end to end in alinement with one of the trays. A plunger blade I4 then advances to push '2 the two tablets outof the slots and into the tray. This operation is repeated at each station until each tray is iilled with twelve tablets, each two tablets entering the tray after tthe ilrsattwo 'are inserted pushing the `others, toward the other end of the tray. A cover plate extends over the trays as :they pass from one station to another, the

cover plate assisting in guiding the tablets in propel' position into the tray-s.

Heretofore consider-able diliiculty has been experienced when for `any reason the described feeding devices tail to properly feed the tablets into the trays. In accordance with the present invention, a cover plate I6 for the trays is provided which is hingedly mounted so` as to enable it to be easily and quickly swung upwardlyaway from the trays so the feeding of the tablets into the ltrays may be conveniently observed, and in case the Ifeed has been blocked to remedy the conditi-on and in case any are missing insert additional tablets into the trays. The cover plate may rthen be easily swung down into its normal position and locked in position until again released by the operator and swung upwardly for inspection of the trays.

As shown, this cover plate is hinged at its `outer edge by means of pivot studs I8 which are received in apertures in bearing blocks 20 on the machine frame. The cover plate is locked in its normal position by means of bolts 22 which are mounted to slide in bearing blocks 24.- When the bolts 22 are projected, the reduced ends 26 thereof are received in llocking recesses lor apertures in xed members 28 Ion the machine fname.

The bolts are adapted to be projected and retracted to lock and unlock the :cover plate, by means 0f rocker arms 36 which are received in slots 32 in the blocks 24 and are secured on rock shafts 34 mounted in said blocks. The movements of the rock shafts 34 to project and retract the bolts 26 are limited by stop pins 36 on the hubs of the arms 30 yengaging thedend walls of the slots 32. The inner ends of the rock shafts 34 have arms 38 secured thereto which have their outer ends connected by a rod 40.

With this construction, upon swinging 'the arms 38 by means of the r-od 40 upwardly t-o the broken line position shown in Fig. 2, the bolts 26 may be retracted and the cover plate I6 may be swung upwardly by using the rod 46 as a handle. When the cover plate is in this position, all of the rtnays being filled and the slotted feed wheels 8 are exposed to View, so that the operator may quickly and conveniently `observe whether the tablets are being properly fed into the trays. It will be apjected to lock the cover in lposition through their 5 connection with the handle rod 40.

It will thus be apparent by means of my hinged cover and devices for projecting and retracting the lockfbolisfthe coverfinay bfe easilywarg quickly swung upwardly for the purpose describedan'd 10 may be returned to its normal position. There Ais shown mounted on the cover and movable therwith, retarding plates 42 which operate'ftlgh slots 44 in the cover. Theserplates hare secured 2. In a box illling machine of the class described, a plurality of trays arranged side by side and adapted to be fed sidewise in one direction intermittently, devices for feeding articles into a plurality of the trays through one of the ends thereof during the periods of rest of the trays, a cover plate beneath which the trays pass as they areumoveld into position to receive articles from Said devicesa-r-hinged connectonflbtween the outer edgel of the cover" 'plate' a'nd the' machine L,frame whereby the cover plate may be swung upvvardly to permit access to the tops of the trays, Ifiiftiiounted adjacent the ends of the cover plate l,to Slide transversely thereof, sockets for cylindrical rod or shaft 48 ilfiaving ed in apertures in the boltf-carryingrblocvls 24. The rod has spacing sleeiisvllitlieeo'ftd lfld the blocks 46 in place. These plates 42ubear by platn-pos'ititover the trays, rocker arms operatively engaging the bolts, shafts on which the $7Y'1"`cl`:'-rrri'sareieciied, arms having one end secured to said shafts, and a handle rod connecting gravity 011 the OPS of .the tablets as they A'li 20 -fhmther ends of said arms whereby upon swing- @.killedinile@may us modifications' without .and als @richie-@aaa pl JOHN BOUVSQHE'I.

REFEREllYCES CITED 3;; asm; flli ze 'lhe'fgllowing references are of record inmthe 

